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Travel Resources for Airports Around the WorldSat, 14 Sep 2013 23:13:26 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.3.14A Little About the IATA Airport Codeshttp://airportintel.com/airport-codes-and-why-they-matter/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=airport-codes-and-why-they-matter
http://airportintel.com/airport-codes-and-why-they-matter/#commentsSat, 14 Sep 2013 23:08:09 +0000http://airportintel.com/?p=755This is a basic topic for people who have not been exposed to airport codes and their uses and significance when traveling. I hope to provide some useful information that will help make life a little easier when it comes to the world of airlines and airports. Have you ever wondered about those three-letter codes […]

]]>This is a basic topic for people who have not been exposed to airport codes and their uses and significance when traveling. I hope to provide some useful information that will help make life a little easier when it comes to the world of airlines and airports.

Have you ever wondered about those three-letter codes that appear on your luggage tag when you check a bag with your airline? The codes are used to identify the airports all over the world. Airports, both large and small, are assigned a three-letter code to designate their facility. The baggage system in each airport uses that code to route bags to their final destination. The bar code on the tag contains information that can be read by automated bag systems to send the bag to an airplane for loading, to another airplane if there is a change of planes, or to the correct baggage carousel so you can claim it after your flight. It’s an easy system, but because there are so many codes now, a small error (usually human error) can mean that your bag ends up in Timbuktu instead of Maui. Not good. Look at the tag as it is being attached to your luggage. Make sure that the right three-letter code is showing on the tag before it goes on the conveyor belt. If the customer service rep puts the wrong tag on your bag (this has happened to me – my bag went to another state), you’ll have to wait while they try to figure out what happened to your bag. This can take 24 hours or more. Ask the attendant if you have to, to show you the tag before they throw it on the belt. The folks who work at the check-in desks are good people, but sometimes they grab the wrong tag and put it on your bag. So it is your responsibility to be sure that the right tag is applied to your important luggage.

If you want to look up an airport code, go here to find it. You’ll have an easier time understanding what is happening if you just know the airport codes that are to be used in your itinerary. For example, if you were to make a flight reservation to go to London, the airport codes you might be using might be:

SFO > JFK > LHR

This means that your journey will start in San Francisco, then change planes at JFK airport in New York, then continue on to London’s Heathrow airport. If your flight is on one airline, the tag they place on your bag should indicate the stop at JFK, but the big letters you see should be LHR, indicating that Heathrow is your end destination. The tag will help the bag to transfer over to the airplane that you’ll take from JFK to LHR. For some of you, this is not new information, but it pays to know what the airport codes are for trips you are expecting to take. Many flight booking services let you use the three-letter code to choose the start and end points of the flight you are trying to book. So next time you are making a reservation, type in the three-letter code instead of the city name and the airport should come up as a choice.

Where does this code come from?

The International Air Transport Association airport codes were developed to make it easier to identify airports all over the world. Some of the codes you’ll come across were simply letters taken from the name of the city – such as San Diego(SAN), San Francisco (SFO), San Jose (SJO), etc. Some airports have improved and expanded and changed their names over the years and were originally designated using the old location. Chicago’s O’Hare Airport (ORD) was originally Orchard Field.

Like most things, changes are necessary to maintain progress and growth. Airports are very important places and changes are inevitable. By learning the codes of the major airports of the world, you can navigate the busy world of airlines, ticketing and air connections necessary to get your favorite destinations.

]]>http://airportintel.com/airport-codes-and-why-they-matter/feed/0How To Get A VAT Tax Refundhttp://airportintel.com/how-to-get-a-vat-tax-refund/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-to-get-a-vat-tax-refund
http://airportintel.com/how-to-get-a-vat-tax-refund/#commentsSat, 11 May 2013 22:52:10 +0000http://airportintel.com/?p=726Airports are the best place to get a VAT tax refund, because most people will leave the European Union on an airplane from an EU airport. Why not take a few minutes to understand how YOU can use this to your advantage the next time you depart the EU? Play your cards right, and you […]

Airports are the best place to get a VAT tax refund, because most people will leave the European Union on an airplane from an EU airport. Why not take a few minutes to understand how YOU can use this to your advantage the next time you depart the EU? Play your cards right, and you can get back some taxes that you don’t legally have to pay. How cool is that?

Getting a VAT tax refund has been a thorn in my side every time I’ve made a trip to Europe. Usually, my wife wants to purchase a nice purse or other articles from some pretty expensive retailers (Gucci, Louis Vuitton, etc.). When spending several thousand dollars in Europe, a VAT tax refund is a must to help keep the cost as low as possible. Why leave hundreds of dollars on the table when you don’t have to? It only makes sense to pursue your refund when you are leaving the European Union (EU). But why do they make it so hard? I’m not sure they (the EU) realize how confusing and frustrating it can be to get the refund (or maybe they do and want to keep it that way. Many people don’t want to be bothered or just give up).

So what is the VAT tax and why do I care? The VAT (value added tax) is attached to goods as they are being manufactured and ends up being a “hidden tax” because it is a part of the price of an item in the EU countries. It’s not added on at the end when a person finally makes a retail purchase. The VAT tax is added and collected at various stages of the manufacturing process by the governments involved. The amount can range up to 25% of the finished items, so this is a tax that brings in a lot of money for each country and is part of what they use to provide services to the people that live there. Since tourists don’t get any benefit from government services (like health care and social services), the EU offers to refund this VAT tax to tourists when they leave the EU. Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to recover the VAT tax on the items you purchase while in the EU on business or vacation. Sound good?

In order to get the VAT tax back, there are specific things you need to do – and they take time. It is in your best interest to know what to do and to budget the appropriate amount of time to do it. Otherwise, some of your hard-earned money will stay on the table along with some of mine! If you know what has to happen to get your refund, then you’ll be better equipped to shop at the right retailers. That’s an important point to make. When you know you’ll be spending more than the minimum amount needed to qualify for a refund (varies by country – ask the shopkeeper how much it is), you’ll want to shop in places that will make the refund process easier for you. Here’s how you can do that:

1. It’s best to look for the Global Blue Tax Free or Premier Tax Free sign in the merchant’s window so you know it will be easier to claim a VAT refund. Merchants that provide this service make it possible to claim your refund at the airport when you are leaving the EU. You can also mail in your refund forms, but I prefer to get a refund before I leave. Too many of the forms I’ve mailed in have never resulted in a refund coming back to my credit card. Tell the merchant that you want to claim a VAT refund, ask them how much you have to spend to be eligible (each country is different) and have them prepare the forms for you. Remember that you must spend the minimum amount all at once. You cannot add smaller purchases together to meet the minimum spend amount. So plan your shopping trips accordingly if you want to be able to get a VAT tax refund of any of the purchases you make. And make your purchases close to the time you’ll be leaving the EU. There is a 3 month limit on the time you have to claim a refund from the purchase date. Don’t miss out because you waited too long to claim the refund.

2. Bring your passport with you when shopping. You’ll need it to start the refund process.

3. Make your big purchases only at stores that know how to process VAT tax refunds. Before shopping, make sure they will provide you with the necessary forms. If you work with a store that has a Global Blue or Premier Tax Free sign, you can process your refund in the airport as you are leaving the EU. Check both to be sure they have a location in the airport you will be departing from.

4. Obtain all of the necessary documents from the store and attach the receipt to them. Be sure to fill in any blanks on the form on the spot so you can get help with anything you’re not sure about. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. That’s what the store is obliged to do – help tourists through the process and provide assistance in filling out the forms.

5. Keep all of your purchase paperwork safely together until you get to the airport that you will be leaving the EU from. There, you will get it all stamped by an agent in the local customs office. Remember that purchases from any EU countries will be processed all at the same time, so keep track of those receipts. Just ask someone where to go for customs stamps or watch for the signs directing you. Be sure to do this before you check your bags, because the agent will usually ask to see the items you purchased. Everything you bought is supposed to be new and not being used yet, so you should not be wearing any of the items. Have it all easily accessible if the agent asks to see it.

6. Once you get your stamps, you can proceed to the Global Blue office or to the Premier Tax Free office and have them process your refund. If you didn’t use a tax free service, then you’ll have to mail the forms back and hope that you’ll eventually get your refund. Allow 2 or 3 months for the refund to appear on your credit card statement. Just be aware that a lot of people never see their refund (me too!). Try to plan for your refund in the airport in cash or by credit card. This is the best way to be sure you’ll get a refund.

7. If you get a cash refund in the airport and it is in Euros or Pounds, you’ll have to spend it in the airport or just take it home and use it on the next trip (that sounds like a good excuse to return one day soon!). You can also take it to your bank and see if they will exchange it for you at a reasonable cost.

To summarize: My first few attempts at getting a refund didn’t go well, since I didn’t really understand the process and I just hoped that things would work out. Well, they didn’t. I stumbled around and got some refunds, but not others. So now I am wiser and a few Euros lighter. But future purchases will be made with a new-found understanding of the VAT tax refund scheme and how to work it to my advantage. I really believe that a lot of money must be left behind by tourists every year, simply because they are so confused about the process that they don’t bother with it. Don’t be one of those people who give up and leave without the money they are entitled to.

I’d like to hear about success stories you’ve had with getting VAT tax refunds processed. Surely some of you have become experts in this? What do you have to add? Help a traveler out!

]]>http://airportintel.com/how-to-get-a-vat-tax-refund/feed/0How You Can Participate with TSA Pre ✓™http://airportintel.com/how-you-can-participate-with-tsa-precheck/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-you-can-participate-with-tsa-precheck
http://airportintel.com/how-you-can-participate-with-tsa-precheck/#commentsSun, 03 Mar 2013 02:35:48 +0000http://airportintel.com/?p=267TSA Pre✓™ is a new system that is offered to people who travel frequently. It requires you to go through a risk assessment before being granted this status. U.S. Citizens who are members of Customs and Border Protection Trusted Traveler programs, such as Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI programs and eligible frequent travelers. TSA PreCheck […]

TSA Pre✓™ is a new system that is offered to people who travel frequently. It requires you to go through a risk assessment before being granted this status.

U.S. Citizens who are members of Customs and Border Protection Trusted Traveler programs, such as Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI programs and eligible frequent travelers.

TSA PreCheck is being rolled out across the nation

If/when TSA determines that you are eligible for “expedited screening”, you will have information embedded in the barcode of your boarding pass. TSA will read the barcode at designated checkpoints and you may be referred to the expedited screening lane where you might be not have to remove the following items:

Shoes

3-1-1 compliant bag from carry-on

Laptop from bag

Light outerwear/jacket

Belt

Passengers 12 and under will be allowed through the TSA PreCheck lanes with an eligible traveler.

So why should I take the time to sign up?

If you travel a lot and your time is valuable (even if it only means a few extra minutes in the lounge or at the gate), then it is worth your while to join this program. The TSA wants to expedite the screening process where it can. We can only hope that they will continue to make improvements in the program to make it better and more efficient. It is currently hit-or-miss when it comes to being selected for the TSA PreCheck lane. You shouldn’t expect that you will always avoid the longer screening lines, so be sure to have enough time just in case.

How will I save time by using TSA PreCheck?

TSA PreCheck is not a guarantee that you will go through screening without having to remove shoes, belt, etc. In order to keep the random screening process intact, sometimes you will be required to submit to the same scrutiny as the regular security lines. The random inspections are designed to keep travelers on their toes, so no one thinks they will not be checked at any time. I’m in favor of this, and you should be, too. It’s a step in the right direction and should be refined in time to better serve the needs of the public.

How do I join the TSA PreCheck program?

Participating airlines will usually invite their frequent flyers, according to the criteria established by the TSA. If you haven’t received an invitation from any of the airlines you frequently travel on, you can still apply for one of the eligible programs by going to the Global Entry website. Many people are already eligible to participate. If you are with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Global Entry, SENTRI or NEXUS programs, then you are eligible and you can apply.

I haven’t come across anything to indicate when more people will be allowed to opt-in to the program.

Where is TSA PreCheck available?

Those persons who are frequent travelers and fly on Delta, United, Alaska Airlines, American and US Airways are possible program participants. The airlines will invite some of these travelers to opt-in to the program. There are more airports being added to the program, but it takes time to implement at some airports because of the extra space needed. Go to this link to see a list of participating airports. You can also get some of your questions answered at this TSA site.

For more information on how you can apply, plus get more information on the program, you can go to this TSA website.

While not a perfect program by any means, it is a step in the right direction. I would recommend that travelers who believe they qualify, apply for acceptance into the program and save yourself some time and energy whenever and wherever you can. A few more minutes to check your email or do a little work before departure is always handy to have.

I am really interested to hear from people who have been admitted to TSA PreCheck. Please leave a comment and tell me what your experience has been like.